Apparatus for extracting oil or the like from the surface of the sea

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for extracting oil or the like from the surface of the sea. A centrally disposed ballast chamber is surrounded by a sump compartment which is sufficiently large so as to obtain deceleration of flow of the liquids which pass over an articulated weir member. The latter is connected to arm members which are provided with a substantially universal connection to the ballast chamber. A flexible skirt member forms an exterior wall portion of the sump compartment and is connected to the lips which constitutes an upper edge of the outer weir member. In this manner a pressure differential across the skirt member is communicated to an individual weir segment member in order to vary its elevation in a self-compensating manner. In a preferred form of the invention, the float members form vanes so arranged as to impart a vortex or circular swirl to the fluids passing over the outer weir. An inner weir means is used to collect oil floating on the surface within the sump which has accumulated adjacent the wall of the centrally disposed ballast chamber.

United States Patent [1 1 Markel et al.

[54] APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING OIL OR THE LIKE FROM THE SURFACE OF THE SEA [75] Inventors: Arthur L. Markel, Miami; Robin F. Wirsching, Summerland Key, both of Fla.

[73] Assignee: Reynolds Submarine Services Corporation, Miami, Fla.

22 Filed: May 13,1971

211 Appl. No.1 143,105

521 US. Cl ..210/242, 210/010. 21 51 int. Cl. ..C02b 9/02 [58] Field of Search ..210/242, 83, DIG. 21

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,635,342 1/1972 Mourlon et al ..2l0/242 Primary Examiner Samih N. Zaharna Assistant ExaminerT. A. Granger Att0rneyLo w & Matthews 1 3,722,689 51 Mar. 27, 1973 57 ABSTRACT Apparatus for extracting oil or the like from the surface of the sea. A centrally disposed ballast chamber is surrounded by a sump compartment which is sufficiently large so as to obtain deceleration of flow of the liquids which pass over an articulated weir member. The latter is connected to arm members which are provided with a substantially universal connection to the ballast chamber. A flexible skirt member forms an exterior wall portion of the sump compartment and is connected to the lips which constitutes an upper edge of the outer weir member. In this manner a pressure differential across the skirt member is communicated to an individual weir segment member in order to vary its elevation in a self-compensating manner. In a preferred form of the invention, the float members form vanes so arranged as to impart a vortex or circular swirl to the fluids passing over the outer weir. An inner weir means is used to collect oil floating on the surface within the sumpwhich has accumulated adjacent the wall of the centrally disposed ballast chamber.

ll'Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATEHTEFIHARZT ms SHEET 2 OF 4 0. am mmw n mw mLc um Zw A R 2/5 ATTORNEYS PATENTEDHARZYISB SHEET 3 OF 4 IIII 'l h IN! ENTORS Arthur L. Markel Rob/n F W/isch/ng ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING OIL OR THE LIKE FROM THE SURFACE OF THE SEA This invention relates to apparatus for extracting oil or the like from the surface of the sea, and more particularly to such an apparatus wherein a relatively large sump compartment is utilized together with cooperating vanes to achieve separation of oil and water.

This invention utilizes a self-compensating weir arrangement disclosed in the co-pending application of Robin F. Wirsching, filed concurrently herewith. In the self-compensating weir construction shown in the aforementioned patent application, a surface layer extractor or skimming apparatus carries its own ballast chamber substantially centrally of the apparatus itself. A flexible skirt is employed to form a wall portion of a sump compartment which substantially surrounds the ballast chamber. The flexible skirt provides means for communicating a pressure differential to the lips of a floating weir member in order to vary the elevation or articulated portions thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, the sump compartment is made sufficiently large so as to obtain deceleration of the flow of liquids which pass over the weir member. Vanes are employed in order to obtain a vortex within the sump compartment. The latter is made large enough so that a quiescent condition is obtained for the liquids therein and in one form of the invention the vortex concentrates the oil substantially adjacent the central ballast chamber whereby the oil may be removed with the aid of an inner weir memberpositioned adjacent the central ballast chamber. Selectively controlled pump means is used to pump the oil obtained from the inner weir member to a collecting vessel and ensures that a large ratio of water to oil, a deficiency of many present day skimmers, is avoided. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to employ enormous collecting tanks or vessels in order to obtain separation of oil and water.

In another form of the present invention, a central swirl chamber is employed whereby oil may be skimmed from the surface of a body of water and delivered substantially centrally of the unit where acceleration forces are'minimized. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the oil may be extracted from the central location.

The inherent advantages and improvements of the present invention will become more readily apparent upon considering the following detailed description of the invention and by reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one form of a skimmer-separator apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, with parts broken away, of another form of a skimmer-separator apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, schematic in nature, of a skimmer-separator apparatus such as is shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, drawn to a smaller scale, of the skimmer-separator apparatus of FIg. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation, in top plan view, to illustrate the circulation of fluids in the apparatus of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view taken in vertical cross section illustrating a central swirl chamber of the apparatus of FIG. 2. p

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a skimmerseparator apparatus indicated generally at 10. A base for the skimmer-separator apparatus is shown at 12 with support posts 14 extending thereabove in order to support a centrally located ballast chamber indicated generally at 16. Ballast Chamber 16 has substantially cylindrical side walls 18, a bottom wall 20 and a top wall 22.

A hollow central portion 24 within ballast chamber 16 provides a suitable housing for a main motor 26, pump 28 and auxiliary drive motor 30 for pump 28 to be described in greater detail hereinafter. The entire unit may be lifted by means of lift ring 32 and a power line 34 provides a remotely controlled drive for motor 30 whereby the pump 28 is driven selectively as will be described hereinafter.

An open-topped sump compartment 40 surrounds the central ballast chamber 16 with wall 18 of the central ballast chamber 16 providing an inner wall for the sump compartment and a flexible curtain 42 provides an outer wall thereof. Flexible wall 42 also provides means for communicating a differential pressure to the lips 44 of an outer weir whereby the heightthereof may be controlled. This feature of the invention is described and claimed in copending application of Robin F. Wirsching, filed concurrently herewith. The flexible curtain 42 is attached to base 12 which constitutes a lower edge for the flexible weir member.

The lips 44 collectively constitute an upper edge of the weir. These lips are provided at the end of weir arms 46 which are universally mounted to the central ballast compartment at 48. Such a universal mounting may be provided by means of shackle bolts or the like attached to support members 49 of the central ballast chamber 16. Attached to the weir arms 46 as at 50 are a plurality of float members 52 whereby the skimmerseparator unit 10 may float in a body of water.

Motor 26 drives a propeller 54 through the intermediary of shaft 56 whereby liquids which pass over the variable height lips 44 of the outer weir into sump compartment 40 are exhausted therefrom. These liquids are pumped out through an exhaust pipe or manifold 58. Similarly, pump 28 driven by motor 30 is provided with an outlet manifold 60 in order to remove oil which accumulates in the vicinity of an inner weir 62 by the quiescent flow within sump compartment 40. Conduit 64 interconnected to the inner weir 62 conveys the oil to conduit 66 and then to pump 28. A shaft 68 is the drive shaft between motor 30 and pump 28.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-3, there is shown a modified form of a skimmer-separator indicated generally at 10a. In this form of the invention, float members are vane-shaped as indicated at 70 and suitably affixed to a metal backing member 74. The weir arms 76 are hingedly pivoted at 47 and are univer- .sally pivoted as indicated generally at 78 to a support ring 80. A plurality of sections of debris screens 82 are interconnected by flexible interconnecting members 83 as seen best in FIG. 4 in order to prevent floating debris from passing over the ends 84 of the metal backing members 74 which provide a weir lip or upper edge 84 over which oil and water may pass. As seen best in FIG.

manner inwardly toward the center of the ballast chamber 16a. The oil is thereby presented for extraction by passage over a central weir located within the wall of the central ballast chamber 16a is designated at 180 for the lower portion and at 18b for the upper portion which is suitably supported thereabove.

An inner weir 96 having an outwardly flared upper portion 98 facilitates the separation of oil 86 from water 88 whereby the oil may be pumped by pump 100 through a flexible tube 102 to a suitable collection means, not shown. The central ballast compartment has a lower conduit 104, as seen best in FIGS. 3 and .6, for reception of the excess fluid, principally water, back into the sump compartment 40. Means such as a vent 106 in FIG. 6 or a pipe 10611 in FIG. 3 are used to provide a vent for the conduits 90 leading into the swirl chamber 92in FIGS. and 6.

As seen in FIG. '4, a vortex inducer means 72 is provided consisting of a hole or exit port at the end of a vane 73 which is closely adjacent to the exterior wall of the central ballast chamber. A hose, notshown, interconnects each exit po'rt of the vortex inducermeans 72 with the suction end of pump 100. Thus it is possible with the use of outer vanes at 70 and inner vanes such as at 73and a vortex inducer at 72 that the oil builds up adjacent the central ballast chamber in a quiescent manner whereby extremely good concentrations of oil are obtained. In addition, baffles may be used on the central ballast chamber such as at 108 and 110 in FIG. 3 to further insure that the oil build-up occurs in a quiescent manner. I v 1 Skimmer units made in accordance with the present invention have been made with processing rates from 100 gallons to 10,000 gallons per minute. Thus it is economical for these units to meet theneeds of ex-' tremely small marinas up to sizes required for massive off-shore oil spills. Since the weir,,has a variable depth, the oil and water is captured around the entire circumference of the unit. and moves the oil into a wave-protected inner sum-p area where it is concentrated and collected. The waterenters over the weir and flows smoothly downwardly as is indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3 to. be discharged by propeller 54a with or without the aidof a baffle 58a. 7

Since the oil is concentrated effectively with the use ofinner weirs such as are shown at 62 in FIG. 1 and at 96 in the embodiment of FIGS. 2-6, the present invention permits the collection of considerably more oil and less water. Therefore, it is possible to operate the pumps 28 (FIG. 1) and'l00 (FIGS. 2-6) periodically and from a remotely controlled position. The baffle 58a permits the water to be discharge overboard in a horizontal direction with respect to the skimmerseparator unit itself. A relatively shallow draft of 4.5 feet is all that is required for the skimmer-separator of the present invention. Each of the weir segments is prov unit seeks a constant weir depth independent of the water surface shape. The collective effect of the circumferential weir segments produces a constant depth skimming action.

While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that the invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer-of a body of water comprising:

a. a ballast chamber,

b. an open-topped sump compartment exterior to and encircling said ballast chamber,

a flexible weir member having an upper edge and a lower edge encircling said sump compartment,

said upper edge being constructed and arranged so i that a plurality of float members connected thereto provide articulation with respect to the surface of said body of water, said lower edge of said flexible weir member being connected to a lower edge of said sump compartment,

. means provided in said sump compartment comprising an inlet to a pump means for removing the surface layer of liquid collected in said sump compartment, 1 r n means in fluid communication with the lower region of said sump compartment for removing additional liquid therefrom, and f. said float'rnembers being constructed and arranged as flow guiding vanes which direct the flow of liquids over said upper weir edge into said sump in a spiral direction corresponding to the whorls of fluid around a vortex.

. 2. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined .in claim 1 wherein said float members are attached to arm members with said arm members having a substantiallyuniversal connection to said ballast chamber.

' .3. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim 1 including an inner weir member surrounding said central ballast chamber. 4. An apparatus for skimmingthe surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim 1 includingmeans for establishing a swirl chamber withinsaid central ballast 'weirmember contained within said ballast chamber.

6. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim I wherein said ballast chamber is provided with conduit means for directing liquids received in said sump compartment inwardly toward the center of said ballast chamber.

7. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim 1 wherein said ballast chamber is provided with an inner surface a portion of which is conical in cross section to define an inner swirl chamber to facilitate the separation of oil from water.

8'. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim 7 including an inner weir member contained within said central ballast chamber.

9. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim 1 wherein said ballast chamber is provided with an outer wall which serves as chamber is provided with an inner surface a portion of which is conical in cross section to define an inner swirl chamber to facilitate the separation of oil from water.

11. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim 10 including an inner weir member contained within said central ballast chamber. 

1. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water comprising: a. a ballast chamber, b. an open-topped sump compartment exterior to and encircling said ballast chamber, c. a flexible weir member having an upper edge and a lower edge encircling said sump compartment, said upper edge being constructed and arranged so that a plurality of float members connected thereto provide articulation with respect to the surface of said body of water, said lower edge of said flexible weir member being connected to a lower edge of said sump compartment, d. means provided in said sump compartment comprising an inlet to a pump means for removing the surface layer of liquid collected in said sump compartment, e. means in fluid communication with the lower region of said sump compartment for removing additional liquid therefrom, and f. said float members being constructed and arranged as flow guiding vanes which direct the flow of liquids over said upper weir edge into said sump in a spiral direction corresponding to the whorls of fluid around a vortex.
 2. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim 1 wherein said float members are attached to arm members with said arm members having a substantially universal connection to said ballast chamber.
 3. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim 1 including an inner weir member surrounding said central ballast chamber.
 4. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim 1 including means for establishing a swirl chamber within said central ballast chamber.
 5. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim 4 including an inner weir member contained within said ballast chamber.
 6. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim 1 wherein said ballast chamber is provided with conduit means for directing liquids received in said sump compartment inwardly toward the center of said ballast chamber.
 7. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim 1 wherein said ballast chamber is provided with an inner surface a portion of which is conical in cross section to define an inner swirl chamber to facilitate the separation of oil from water.
 8. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim 7 including an inner weir member contained within said central ballast chamber.
 9. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim 1 wherein said ballast chamber is provided with an outer wall which serves as an inner wall for said sump compartment, said wall of said ballast chamber being provided with a plurality of conduit means for directing liquids received in said sump compartment inwardly toward the center of said ballast chamber, and means for venting said conduit means.
 10. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim 9 wherein said ballast chamber is provided with an inner surface a portion of which is conical in cross section to define an inner swirl chamber to facilitate the separation of oil from water.
 11. An apparatus for skimming the surface layer of a body of water as defined in claim 10 including an inner weir member contained within said central ballast chamber. 